In our Operation Hope program, we have planned to build an orphanage, the Watoto Village, in which we shall house the neediest children in our program:-

a)      Those who are sick (HIV Positive) – because they need continual medical attention, and they need to eat healthy too.

b)      Those who live with very aged and dependent guardians e.g. in cases where the guardians are blind, or too weak to take care of themselves and the children. In such cases, the children usually go out to look for food after coming from school.

c)       Those who live with their relatives, but those relatives are mistreating them.

d)      Those who are extremely poor and are not able to study and do their assignments in the evenings because they are too poor to afford kerosene for the hurricane lamps, for example. We would provide them with electricity, and they would be able to study both early in the mornings and late at night.

While at the orphanage, these children would be able to receive both medical and other needed forms of attention. In addition, we would be able to talk with teenagers in the upper classes who have a tendency of leaving school and getting married. We would provide an atmosphere where they not only enjoy school, but also embrace its importance for their future. We hope that this would instill discipline in them as well.

COTTAGES

The village, which will be located in Magogoni, a place near our ACMI headquarters, will be organized in units/cottages, that is, self-contained separate houses, in order to house children in a family set-up. Each cottage will have about 7 or 8 children, with a “mother” or a matron who will stay with them in that family set-up, gearing them better to normal life.

Each cottage contains 3 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1 kitchen and washrooms. The boys and girls would have separate bedrooms, and the mother would have her own bedroom. The compound can contain 30 cottages.

We are looking forward to getting teams/churches who can volunteer to build one unit.

COSTS

1 unit/cottage costs Kshs. 1, 627, 792. (US$ 21, 140)

In financing, a team or individual can take part of the cost of the cottage as follows:

ITEM	DESCRIPTION	COST IN Kshs.	COST IN US DOLLARS
1	Foundation	565, 550	7, 345
2	Walling	325, 590	4, 228
3	Roofing	368, 412	4, 785
4	Finishes	368, 240	4, 782
5	TOTAL	1,627,792	21,140

May God bless you as you help these children.